NEW BRUNSWICK FORESTRY CONVENTION 



the public interest is so paramount as that the Legislature could properly 

 regulate the extent to which the forest upon private lands at the head waters 

 of these rivers and streams could be cut away ? Or, if it were thought not 

 possible to legislate in that direction, whether the public interest would be 

 so paramount as that the Government would be justified in taking proceed- 

 ing to acquire, to buy back again, the land situate at the head waters of 

 those streams? This question, so far as concerns us who live in the south- 

 ern part of the Province, is one of great magnitude, and one which will be 

 of o-reat importance in the future. As Attorney General. I would be charged 

 with the drawing of a Bill, if any legislation should be proposed in the 

 future, and if anybody can give me the ideas, I think the Premier will say 

 that I can draw a Bill as well as anybody but I want the ideas. If Mr. 

 Stewart thinks this subject of importance, I would like to hear from him 

 regarding it. Of course, you know, Mr. Chairman, that the Legislature carr 

 only be guided in these matters in so far as they are sustained by public 

 opinion. So I think it is desirable that every one of us, who have any diffi- 

 culty in regard to these matters, should gather information as far as we can 

 -upon the subject in our minds. 



MR. STEWART Well, Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, this, it 

 seems to me, is a question of degree, as to whether the Government would- 

 be warranted in going into this or not. As the honourable gentleman has 

 said if the public interests are paramount, if in certain of the streams it is 

 necessary in the public interests, in the interests of the parties owning the 

 land in the valleys, to do that, that is, to acquire this land, if it cannot 1 

 done any other way if you cannot induce the owners of these land, 

 something themselves, to obtain the prevention of the devastation o 

 forests, then I suppose this is next in order. Of course, this is a question 

 which you will be better able to pronounce upon than I can, but, on tl 

 of the moment, it seems to me that perhaps there might be some legislation 

 which will hold out sufficient inducement to the owners of these land, 

 selves to take up this question, and to preserve these operations at the 

 waters of the streams in forests. There is no question at all that, it 

 ting away of the forest, the source of water supply, is going to mjur 

 Sent it will in many cases, the whole face of the valley below, hen the 

 Mature, I should" think, would be warranted in passing ^'~ 

 thi^ end, always respecting private rights as tar as possifc 

 States Government, in the Adirondacks, are purchasing b ack a,, act, 



+v, ^ in order to preserve the waters or the Mo 

 +V>^rA and rpservino" tnem, in oiut/i LU jjivu 

 She HudsZ iSuch a re being affectea by the cutting away oi the torest* 



